Means for protecting fillings from moisture



Aug. 18, 1925. 1,550,425

G. o. BURLEW MEANS FOR PROTECTING FILLINGS FROM MOISTURE File'd Aug. 6, 1924 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 18, 1925.

UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE.

GILDEROY o. BURLEW, or NEWARK, nnw :rnnsEY.

MEANS FOR PROTECTING FILLINGS FROM. MOISTURE.

Application filed August 6, 1924. Serial No. 730,511.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, G LoERoY O. BURLEW, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Means for Protectin ing is a specification.

Thi-sinvention relates to improvements in coverings possessing the properties of pliability, ductibility and imporosity, capable of a broad general application and more particularly to temporary coverings to protect newly applied tooth fillings from moisture and retain them in proper condition free from outside interference.

In dental operations for the purpose of filling cavities, it is essential that the wall of the cavity be not only meticulously clean, but absolutely dry and that the cementlike filling employed be positively protected from moisture until it has set or become hardened; due to the natural flow of saliva and the strong tendency of persons under treatment to touch the teeth with the tongue, which it is difiicult to restrain, and the abnormal position of the jaws in maintaining the mouth open for any considerable period -of time, such desirable dryness is hard tokeep inviolate.

One of the important objects of the invention is in the provision of a covering easily applied to the tooth or. teeth bein operated upon, the covering being self adherent,

occupying no appreciable space in the mouth, allowing it to be closed with perfect ease, and which effectively prevents contact of the tongue or lips to the filling and further, is impervious to moisture.

Another purpose isto produce a covering that will retain its position as long as may be required without physical discomfortto the person operated upon, and which may be stripped ofi at will and. thrown away, its

cost being negligible. 7

These several aims and objects, together with others which will become manifest as the specification progresses, are accomplished by the simple and novel construction and combination of parts and selection of materials as hereinafter described and illustrated in the annexed drawing, forming 'the operator to'closely engage the tee view of a partial set of teeth, showing the application of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a fragment of the covering in commercial form and illusk g trating the several layers of its composition. FllllIlgS from Moisture, of which the followv Figure-3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of the same.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, Fi ure 1 shows-several teeth, designated general y by the numeral 10 which, for the purpose of illustration, may be supposed to be undergoing treatment that requires complete exclusion of moisture; this is attained by enshrouding the teeth with a cover generically indicated at 11.

The casing is composed of a laminated sheet, the outer layer 12 being a thin metallic foil, such as tin, easily yielding under pressure of the finger and readily conformable to fit the contour of the teeth and remain on them, covering the crown, labial and linguial surfaces from the outer to'the inner side of the gum and spaces between adjacent teeth including all sinuositiesr Deposited on the foil-is a film or layer 13 of paralfine orsimilar waxy substance united by heat to resist separation, short of physical force, and on the outer surface of the parafline is a coating of finely ground gum tragacanth, rolled or pressed into the paraffine so as to become substantially inseparable.

The covering material is out from a strip or sheet to such size and shape as may be required and applied. to the teeth when in a dry condition, and pressed by the fin ers 01f wit the gummed side thereagainst, the gum acting to maintain a firm adherence.

The lower edges of the covering may slightly overlap the gums, which form a tight joint, preventing the entrance 90f saliva.

or other liquids for such time as may be desired, and thereafter the covering may be readily stripped off, leaving the teeth in 'a dry and clean condition.

Should a small portion of the powdered gum tragacanth adhere to the surfaces of the teeth, it will rapidly become dissolved and disappear.

Although the foregoing is descriptive of the invention in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the materials used may be varied in accordance with requirements and also the proportions and sizes of the same, without affecting the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described the invention and set forth the manner of its manufacture and application, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A dental material comprising a tin foil covered on one side with parafiine and an adhesive coating on the parafiine.

2. A dental material comprising a tin I to closely fit the sinuousities of the tooth to which it is applied.

v 4. A dental material comprising a metallic'foil covered on one side with parafiine and an adhesive coatin on the parafline.

.5. A dental mat'eria comprising a foil covered on one side with parafline and a coating of powdered gum incorporated on the surface of the parafline.

6. A dental material for temporarily covering teeth to keep out moisture, comprising a sheet of moisture proof foil, a waxy coating on one side thereof, and an adhesive blended with said coating, said material being sufliciently ductile to closely fit over the teethto which it is to'be' applied.

7. A dental material comprising a sheet of metallic foil covered on one side with an adhesive wax substance.

8. A dental material formed of a sheet of tin foil covered on one side with paraifine and having an adhesive coating on the parafline. I

9. A dental material comprising a metallic foil covered on one side with parafline and a coating of powdered gum incorporated on, the surface of the parafiine.

10. A dental material comprising a tin foil covered on one side with par aifine and an adhesive coating of gum tragacanth on the surface of the paraffine.

This this th day of'July, 1924.

GILDEROY o. BURLEW..

specification signed and witnessed 

